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Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mom's Artichoke Dip & a Wilton Armetale Mother's Day GIVEAWAY!

Editor's Note: A Wilton Armetale Flutes & Pearls Heart Dish was provided to me at no cost. The opinions expressed in this post, as always, are my own.

I have two exciting Mother's Day-themed things to share with you today: a family favorite recipe and a fabulous giveaway!

I can't believe that this is the first time I have shared this artichoke dip recipe on the blog! It's one that I remember my mom making all the time when we had company growing up and the recipe was passed on from her sister, so this one is truly a family tradition. We love it because it's rich, has that great tangy artichoke flavor and because it is so easy. The original recipe could not be simpler to make or to remember: 1 cup, 1 cup, 1 can is the rule here. That's 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 can of artichoke hearts. You stir it all up, bake, and serve warm with crackers.

I, of course, wanted to put my own spin on this recipe so I have made a few small tweaks and am sharing my recipe with you at the end of this post. I subbed in fresh Parmesan cheese for the packaged pre-grated kind that the original recipe calls for; I also substituted Greek yogurt in for part of the mayo because I love its tart flavor and the fact that it's super creamy without being full of fat. To finish it all off, a punch of flavor from dry Italian seasoning and this is the perfect snack for entertaining!

In fact, I served this dip recently to some friends who came over after a busy Saturday where I was on the go all day. To keep this as easy and still as impressive as possible, I used my Wilton Armetale Flutes & Pearls Heart Dish to bake and serve my dip. Wilton Armetale dishes are super versatile, making them a perfect addition to anyone's kitchen-- especially small city apartment kitchens like mine where space is super limited!

These aluminum-based alloy Wilton Armetale dishes can be used for a variety of uses in your kitchen: you can grill in them, bake in them, and use them on your stovetop as they can sustain temperatures of up to 1000 degrees. And they're even freezer safe (but not dishwasher safe, FYI)! On top of all of that, the dishes are really pretty so you can take them from the stove, oven, or grill straight to the table and they not only look great, but the material retains the temperature of your food for longer too. I baked my dip in the morning, covered and refrigerated it all day, and then just popped it back in the oven for a few minutes to reheat before serving it that night. It was warm and perfect!

Now that I have told you all about how awesome Wilton Armetale is, let's get to something even more exciting... a giveaway!

Mother's Day is just one week away, so wouldn't a Wilton Armetale dish be the perfect gift for a mom that loves to cook and entertain? Or really, the perfect gift for anyone that likes to cook or entertain (including you)? Well, here is your opportunity to win not just one, but a prize pack of four Wilton Armetale dishes! This prize pack is worth over $300 and includes the adorable heart dish that I used to bake my artichoke dip in addition to the large round tray, the square bowl, and the small chip & dip bowl.

Enter the giveaway using the widget below for your chance to win. There are multiple ways to enter, so be sure to take advantage of them all and increase your chances of winning this great prize pack!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray an ovenproof baking dish (like a Wilton Armetale dish, for example) with cooking spray or a little olive oil and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients, reserving the 2 Tbs. of Parmesan cheese. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the reserved Parmesan on top and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is brown and bubbly.

I have the shell chip and dip and I loved it, until someone helped with cleanup and sent it through the dishwasher. Now its just a chip bowl, but still pretty. I would love to have the square grill pan...then I could use it indoors and out. Anything that saves my room in my cabinets is a good thing!

A Squared is all about life, love, and the pursuit of great food here in the fabulous city of Chicago. I love food: both cooking (it's my therapy) and trying new restaurants. You can also find me exploring Chicago, traveling, drinking wine, studying architecture, and spending time with my husband, friends & family. And I will share it all with you here.
Welcome to A Squared!